Justice News

TIMOTHY WHITMER, age 53, a resident of Harvey, Louisiana and former Chief Administrative Officer of Jefferson Parish, was sentenced today to three years probation by U.S. District Court Judge Mary Ann Vial Lemmon for Misprision of a Felony concerning his involvement with Aaron Broussard and Tom Wilkinson in a Conspiracy to Commit Bribery, Wire Fraud, and Theft Concerning Programs Receiving Federal Funds, announced U.S. Attorney Dana J. Boente and FBI Special Agent in Charge Michael Anderson. WHITMER was also ordered to pay restitution to Jefferson Parish in the amount of $160, 430.15 joint and severally liable with Aaron Broussard, Tom Wilkinson and Karen Parker. In addition, Judge Lemmon ordered WHITMER to pay a $5,000 fine.

Broussard was previously sentenced for his involvement in a conspiracy with WHITMER, Tom Wilkinson and Karen Parker to steal taxpayer funds when they and others created a sinecure Paralegal Supervisor position for Parker. Broussard knowingly and illegally diverted taxpayer funds to his ex-wife in the form of her salary for over six years, when Parker did not even possess the most basic credentials or requisite experience to hold the position of Paralegal Supervisor and, repeatedly sought to conceal the illegal nature of her employment with Jefferson Parish by having Parker transferred to the ID Management Office at the East Bank Regional Library in an effort to hide the fact that she was not working for the Parish Attorney’s Office as a Paralegal Supervisor and was not performing any work as a paralegal.

“Mr. Whitmer betrayed the citizens of Jefferson Parish and violated his public trust,” said United States Attorney Boente. “The prosecution should further serve notice that the United States Attorney’s Office will continue its robust investigation and prosecution of public corruption.”

“The FBI believes this is a fair and just result given Mr. Whitmer’s role and participation in these corrupt schemes,” added Michael Anderson, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation New Orleans Field Office.

The case was investigated by agents from the Federal Bureau of Investigation and was assisted by the Metropolitan Crime Commission. The case was prosecuted by Strike Force Chief and Assistant U.S. Attorney Brian Klebba, and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Matt Chester, Daniel Friel, and Mimi Nguyen.

If you believe you have been a victim of fraud from a person or an organization soliciting relief funds on behalf of storm victims or have knowledge of waste, abuse, or allegations of mismanagement involving disaster relief operations, contact the National Center for Disaster Fraud toll free at: (866) 720-5721. You can also fax information to: (225) 334-4707 or e-mail it to: disaster@leo.gov

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